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Gods judged men, and peered into their hearts. Men did not get to
return the favor. I continued in another vein entirely. If it s all the
same, I d rather leave you to your scrolls and find something to
eat. You may not need to eat regularly, but I still do. I shot him a
sharp look. Or will I return from your kitchens only to find myself
denied an audience with you, and cast out of the palace?
Surprise flashed across Aten s expression in the instant before
he covered it. You re hungry? Why didn t you say so? He made
his tone bewildered, as though this were entirely my fault for not
speaking up sooner.
Will you answer my question or not?
His lips curved. Will you answer mine?
I didn t relent. It seemed to me that it was the only way to deal
with him, when he got like this. If I didn t let him manipulate it, I
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IN THE SHADOW OF THE SUN
could keep the conversation on track.
A moment passed, then Aten laughed and rose. I cannot have
you wasting away on me, can I? He gestured toward the door.
Let us alight, and obtain food.
I half suspected that I would follow him from the chamber and
find him grinning, another pointed barb poised upon his tongue. I
hesitated, but the gnawing in my stomach swayed me.
He lead me into the depths of the palace, where servants rushed
about us like the waters that coursed down the Nile, parting around
us when we stood in their way.
Ah, here, Aten said at last, and led me outdoors to the
kitchen, sweltering in the heat of the fires. Nafrit! He beamed at
the woman who was stooped in the middle of it all, peering into an
open oven as though she couldn t even feel the waves of heat that
rolled out of it. Tell me you have something marvelous.
She straightened and swiped a hand down her side, leaving a
trail of flour. She looked him over, snorted, and grinned. Not for
you, I don t. Can t imagine what you d think I ve got cooking up
for your appetite.
I stared at her, astonished that she would speak to Aten so
comfortably. He laughed and leaned against her table until she
took up a spoon sticky with dough and chased him back.
Not for me, Nafrit. Take pity on my friend. He indicated me
with a jerk of his chin. He wastes away to nothing before my very
eyes. I shall be alone and bereft.
She gave a crack of laughter and shook her head, but her grin
didn t waver. I held myself still beneath her appraising gaze.
Whatever she saw in me, it seemed to satisfy her. She nodded and
fished a fat loaf of bread out of the oven.
She slathered two slices with honey and passed them to me.
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IN THE SHADOW OF THE SUN
There you are, child. Eat up while I find you something more to
fill your stomach.
I didn t know what to make of her, or the obvious affection she
had for Aten, so I shoved the hot bread and dripping honey into my
mouth and marveled in silence.
She assembled a plate of roasted quail, marinated in wine and
seasoned heavily with onions and herbs. It smelled marvelous, and
my stomach rumbled audibly, making Nafrit and Aten both clutch
their sides with laughter.
I picked at the meat cautiously, tearing off a small strip of crisp
skin and savoring the burst of flavor when I laid it upon my
tongue. Nafrit eyed me critically. My lord, you lied. You claim he
wastes, but look. He eats like a mouse. She gestured to my plate.
Eat, child. Or doesn t my cooking suit you?
It suits me very well, I assured her, and ate another, larger bit
of meat. It wasn t the flavor of the meat that struck me so hard, but
rather its abundance. It was an unimaginable luxury to have roast
quail and other meats available whenever one cared to walk out to
the kitchens and have some. I picked the flesh off the leg Nafrit
had given me and watched Aten sidelong.
Thank you, Nafrit, I said when I had finished my plate. She
tried to fill it again, but I refused. Already, I d had more than I was
accustomed to.
Yes, Nafrit, a thousand thanks. Aten beamed at her and drew
me against his side. I stiffened. Seth thanks you, and I, and
everyone in the palace. If he wasted away for lack of sustenance,
then I should find myself wandering the halls, disconsolate, and all
the palace would be forced to endure my piteous sniffles. You have
saved us all from that horrid fate.
Nafrit scoffed and shooed us off, but her cheeks flushed at
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IN THE SHADOW OF THE SUN
Aten s effusive praise.
She likes you, I observed as we returned to the palace.
He slanted me a wry gaze. You needn t act so surprised.
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IN THE SHADOW OF THE SUN
CHAPTER 5
The morning s events left me lost in thought for the rest of the
day. I could make little sense of his friendship with Nafrit, or her
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